Bike Fitting – CycleFit

By Lowell on January 13, 2017

Debs being very Barouderus

Bike Fitting:

This is a series of bike fit reviews from members of the club.  We hope it will give sound and independent insight so you can enjoy more time on the bike.  Third in this series we ask Debs of her experience of the CycleFit, London.

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CycleFit, London:

Who did you choose to go with and why did you choose them?
I had my fit with Phil Cavell at CycleFit in Covent Garden. They are a specialist bike fitting studio who support a number of pro-cyclists and teams. I chose them following a recommendation from a friend who works in the bike industry as I was having a lot of problems with pain and discomfort.
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How did the process begin?
First of all I had to complete a questionnaire, which covered a range of things, including my riding goals, any difficulties I was having and what I wanted from the fit. I then booked in for a studio session, which was around 3 hours.
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What questions did they ask you?
The fit was very comprehensive. It started with a detailed discussion about my current riding , my riding goals and any problems I was having. We also agreed what the priorities of the session were. Then Phil took various measurements and tested my joint mobility and flexibility.
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Peace up – Debs and Lauren

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What technology was used?
After the interview and physical evaluation, they used Dartfish Motion Analysis (they stick sensors on you at key points and you are recorded riding a jig). I also had saddle pressure mapping, as I was having pretty serious pain from my saddle. I also had a shoe fit and custom shoe inserts moulded to support my feet.
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What kind of impact did this have on the your bike fit?

The video analysis allowed Phil to make fine tuning adjustments to my bike set up and cleat positioning. The saddle pressure mapping provided a clear picture of the problems I was explaining. As a woman, saddle issues can be difficult/a bit embarrassing to explain to a man, but Phil was really knowledgable and made me feel at ease.

 

What was the most helpful information you took away from it?

Getting expert advice can transform your riding experience. Small corrections and adjustments can make a big difference, especially if you are having problems with pain and discomfort.

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Ride the world

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How has your fitting affected your current setup and riding experience?
The fit transformed my riding experience. The focus of the fit was on the contact points (hands, feet and saddle). After the fit I got a new saddle, narrower bars and custom moulded shoes. All three have made a huge difference to my enjoyment on the bike.
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If I were going for a fit again, what advice would you give me?

Do some research before you book an appointment – does the shop/fitter you are thinking about have a good reputation for bike fitting, do they work with any teams or clubs, do they use any technology in particular that you can learn about first?

Don’t be afraid to get a bike fit, you don’t need to be riding competitively or own a fancy bike to have one.

Do it BEFORE you spend hundreds of pounds (if not more!!) on ill-fitting equipment.

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Home is where the bike  is
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:: The review is independent and the club does not have any involvement with Pearson.  We’re simply looking for the best fit.  You can find more on this series and other reviews here ::

 

 

 

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